Ashley Giles: Chris Wright and Keith Barker have been fantastic

Ashley Giles has praised the Warwickshire bowling attack after the Bears defeated Durham within three days in the LV= County Championship at Edgbaston.
Giles and the coaching staff would have been worried before the start of this season’s campaign after the injuries to bowling duo Chris Woakes and Boyd Rankin, but the Warwickshire attack has so far thrived in 2012.

They first removed a strong Somerset outfit for 147, and now they have bowled Durham out twice for below 300 which have helped Warwickshire claim top spot in Division One.

Giles has been overjoyed with the club’s start to the season, and he is pleased to finally beat Durham for the first time since taking charge of the Birmingham club.

“It is nice to just beat Durham that is the first time in five years for me,” he said. “It is certainly something on my list that I wanted to achieve.

“Winning at Liverpool was on my list and beating Durham was too, so we can tick those two boxes. But there is still a long way to go and there are still 12 more boxes to tick.

“Bell batted beautifully for his 120; he lined up the ball well and looked like scoring lots of runs which bolds well for England.

“I have been impressed with the way the guys have gone about their business in this game and all season, the bowling has been really disciplined and has been really impressive.

“After losing Chris Woakes and Boyd Rankin to injury, I and Jim Troughton were a little bit concerned about our attack, but Chris Wright and Keith Barker have been fantastic this season.”

Keith Barker claimed his maiden five-wicket haul at Liverpool, but he went one better at Edgbaston as he claimed 10-wickets in a match for the first time in his professional career.

He has certainly set some tongues wagging and Giles is now in a hurry to secure his long term future to the club.

“No we haven’t signed Keith [Barker], not yet no,” he added. “But I have got a pen in my pocket.

“The contract hasn’t been drawn up yet, but I think we will be talking to him very soon about getting it sorted.

“Barker was very strong and turned down an offer earlier in the year and to be fair he backed himself to do well, and know he will probably take my trousers down [when negotiations begin].”